# Ierissos: Beaches, Akanthos and Mount Athos Boats
Ierissos is a coastal town on the northeast side of the Athos peninsula in Halkidiki, with a long sandy beach, an ancient city beside it, and a harbour where the east-coast Mount Athos boats set out. It sits in the same municipality as Ammouliani and Ouranoupoli, on the opposite shore of the same peninsula, about ten kilometres from the Mount Athos border. For visitors to this corner of Halkidiki, Ierissos adds a town beach, deep history, and a second way to see the Holy Mountain from the sea.
This guide covers what Ierissos offers and how it fits with Ammouliani and the Mount Athos cruise. Plan the island side of the trip around the Ammouliani ferry schedule.
What is Ierissos?
Ierissos is the main town on the northeast coast of the Athos peninsula, the easternmost of Halkidiki’s three peninsulas. It looks out over the Ierissos Gulf, on the opposite side of the peninsula from Ouranoupoli, which faces southwest toward Ammouliani and the Drenia islets. Ierissos belongs to the same municipality as Ammouliani and Ouranoupoli, so the three sit in one small corner of the map.
The town pairs an everyday Greek seafront with a long history. People come for the beach and the harbour, and stay for the archaeology and the boat trips along the eastern coast of Mount Athos.
Ierissos beach and the harbour
Ierissos has a long sandy beach running along the town, with shallow water and an easy, family-friendly feel. The seafront keeps tavernas and cafes, and the harbour fills with fishing boats and the day boats that head down the Athos coast. It is a relaxed base, quieter and more local in feel than the busier mainland resorts.
Ancient Akanthos
Beside Ierissos lies Akanthos, an ancient city founded by colonists in the 7th century BC, whose remains and cemetery sit a short distance from the modern town. Akanthos was an important port in antiquity, and the area carries layers of classical and Byzantine history, including the long story of the town’s relationship with the monks of Mount Athos. The history is part of what sets Ierissos apart from a simple beach stop.
Mount Athos boats from Ierissos
Ierissos is the gateway to the eastern coast of Mount Athos. Boats from the town sail down the northeast shore of the peninsula and show the monasteries that face the Ierissos Gulf, while the cruises from Ouranoupoli cover the southwestern coast on the other side. Between the two ports, the Mount Athos cruises cover both flanks of the Holy Mountain.
If seeing the monasteries is part of your plan, the guide to the Mount Athos cruise explains what the boats show and why most visitors, including all women, experience Athos from the water.
Ierissos, Ouranoupoli and Ammouliani: the same corner
Ierissos, Ouranoupoli, and Ammouliani sit close together at the base of the Athos peninsula, so it is easy to combine them. A common plan is a Mount Athos boat from Ierissos or a cruise from Ouranoupoli, then the short ferry from Tripiti to Ammouliani for a beach day. The three share the same gulf, the same history, and the same easy pace.
FAQ: Ierissos
Where is Ierissos?
Ierissos is a town on the northeast coast of the Athos peninsula in Halkidiki, about 115 kilometres from Thessaloniki and around ten kilometres from the Mount Athos border. It sits in the same municipality as Ammouliani and Ouranoupoli.
What is there to do in Ierissos?
In Ierissos you can swim at the long town beach, visit the ancient site of Akanthos, eat at the harbour tavernas, and take a boat along the eastern coast of Mount Athos. It works as a quiet base for this corner of Halkidiki.
Do Mount Athos boats leave from Ierissos?
Yes, boats from Ierissos sail along the eastern coast of Mount Athos, showing the monasteries on that side of the peninsula. The cruises from Ouranoupoli cover the southwestern coast, so the two ports show different flanks of the Holy Mountain.
How far is Ierissos from Ammouliani?
Ierissos and Ammouliani sit on the same Athos peninsula, a short drive apart. You reach Ammouliani by driving to the Tripiti port near Ouranoupoli and taking the 15 to 20 minute ferry.
Plan your trip
Pair Ierissos with a Mount Athos boat and an Ammouliani beach day for a full circuit of this corner of Halkidiki. Check the Ammouliani ferry schedule and ticket prices to plan the island side.
Ammouliani Lines runs the Tripiti to Ammouliani ferry, in the same corner of the Athos peninsula as Ierissos.